tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976Tue, 31 Mar 2015 14:53:42 +0000silent sundayparentingfamilyfamily lifenctJohn Lewischristmasfilm reviewrock choirwarner brothersback to schoolbirthbirthdaydiamond jubilee rangefamily bloggingmilestonesroald dahlschool holidayssponsored poststarting school#elfontheshelf. labour supporter. michael gove100 words1987 hurricane1987 storm1:1 tuition pupil premium40thAdvent seasonAsus zenfone budget phone reviewBabies GoBabies Go BeatlesBirth Companion HertsButeChristmas ElfCloch CaravansCowal Gathering. ScotlandDoulaDoula HertsDunoon. ArgyleE2SaveE2Save employees.E2Save illegally upgraidng phoneE2save stealing detailsElfElf traditionsExtremely Loud and Incredibly CloseGourockGreennockHonda Civic type RI love autumnJack SwaggerJohn Lewis ChristmasJounrmey 2Kirsty AllsoppNCT Birth CompanionNCT PractitionerNCT doulaNCT kirsty allsopp twitter storm.NCT vs Kirsty AllsoppNEW COMPUTING CURRICULUMNICENICE guidelinesNew Years Eve 2011Reasons to be CheerfulReview of 2011SID2013Star WarsStop child abuseWWEa visit to the beachabbey roadabout time movieabout time reviewaccessing pupil premiumadidasadult educationangel in kindnessant and Decantenatal classesapril jonesasus zenfone5lte reviewattending antenatal classesaudley end houseaudley end house kids reviewaudley end house reviewautumnautumn daysautumn reflectionsavoiding inductionbabiesbaby calming CDbad behaviourbad weatherbeach funbeach holidaybeatlesbeautybeauty salonbeauty salon radlettJust do It MummyThe Upstairs Downstairs of parentinghttp://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)Blogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-8791696892610334231Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:27:00 +00002015-03-31T15:53:42.885+01:00beets blu pager tag review beets blu heart monitor reviewReview: Beets Blu Heart Rate Monitor and Pager Tag<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLCr525p08I/VRqZJ_chYHI/AAAAAAAAEcc/Oz3vt5k4QTg/s1600/beets%2Bblu%2Bmonitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLCr525p08I/VRqZJ_chYHI/AAAAAAAAEcc/Oz3vt5k4QTg/s1600/beets%2Bblu%2Bmonitor.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Recently I was sent a couple of products from the Beets Blu&nbsp;range to review. Beets Blu are specialists in the fields of mobile apps, fitness technologies and electronics. Now I love using devices which pair with my smartphone, so I was excited to review the products and see how they worked.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLCr525p08I/VRqZJ_chYHI/AAAAAAAAEcc/Oz3vt5k4QTg/s1600/beets%2Bblu%2Bmonitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>The <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beets-Wireless-Bluetooth-Compatible-Smartphones-black/dp/B008LT0MBY/" rel="nofollow">Beets Blu Heart Rate Monitor</a> is a portable device which pairs with your smartphone or computer to measure your heart rate during workouts. The monitor helps you to control your heart rate, which enables you to achieve training tasks such as working on strengthening the cardiovascular system, and stamina. It also helps avoid your heart from working too hard and over training. The heart rate monitor is suitable for both men and women and has a range of up to ten metres.<br /><br />Now I have to confess, I am not an athlete in any way, shape or form, but I have started exercising again more regularly again recently and so I found the heart rate monitor really useful to measure how I was doing. You do have to ensure that it is in the right place, and it is tight enough to avoid moving whilst exercising. I did find that it stayed in place whilst I exercised and afterwards, I was able to look at the associated app I downloaded on my smart phone and get a report of my heart rate performance during the workout. I would definitely recommend buying it and trying it out!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmvDajp7NCo/VRqZJhSwRBI/AAAAAAAAEcY/V8RKaimQeXk/s1600/beets%2Bblu%2Bpager%2Btag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmvDajp7NCo/VRqZJhSwRBI/AAAAAAAAEcY/V8RKaimQeXk/s1600/beets%2Bblu%2Bpager%2Btag.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I also received a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beets-Wireless-Bluetooth-Keychain-Smartphone/dp/B00HENP3FI/" rel="nofollow">Beets Blu Pager Tag&nbsp;</a>Bluetooth key finder to review. I was so glad that I received this as I am forever losing my car keys! The Pager Tag attaches to your bunch of car keys very easily and acts as a location monitor and alarm to help you find them.<br /><br />The BeetsBlu Pager Tag allows you to track it via an app on your mobile phone. It can help you to track your valuables and detect where lost or forgotten items are. The Pager Tag will also alert you when your item is outside of a certain range, via sound and LED lights. It can track location, and it also has an alarm which can be triggered to sound from the Beets Blu app.<br /><br />I was very impressed with the Beets Blu Pager Tag, and it is definitely something I can see myself using. You can also set it via your phone to trigger every time you enter and leave a location, and every time the pager tag is taken out of range. I have to say that the PagerTag is quite sensitive, so you do have to be careful what settings you use, or you may find that when the connection with devices is lost (i.e phone upstairs keys downstairs), the Pager Tag is sending notifications to your phone more often than needs be. &nbsp;However, I found the Pager Tag really easy to install and pair with the app, which I downloaded, The app is also very intuitive to use.<br /><br />Although you can only pair your key finder with one device, you can actually pair more than one key finder per device. I recently had my handbag stolen from the supermarket and I kicked myself for not having a tracking device in there. Now that we have this sort of technology available, I am definitely going to get another Pager Tag to keep in my handbag as the disruption was huge when my handbag went missing and a tracking device would have helped me to locate it.<br /><br />I would definitely recommend both of these devices to others as they definitely help to monitor heart rate and also to keep track of your belongings.<br /><br />Beets Blu products are available via Amazon as per the links above.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Disclosure: Product offered in consideration for review.&nbsp;</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/03/review-beets-blu-heart-rate-monitor-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-688348823846668153Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:45:00 +00002015-03-12T16:45:49.608+00:00Jack Swaggerroald dahlWWEWWE at the Roald Dahl Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rntVxikAleU/VQHA_D9E8ZI/AAAAAAAAArU/ix19z30m60I/s1600/WWE%2BBFG%2BEvent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rntVxikAleU/VQHA_D9E8ZI/AAAAAAAAArU/ix19z30m60I/s1600/WWE%2BBFG%2BEvent.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a>Last weekend we were invited to the Roald Dahl Museum, one of the kids favourite places to an event which linked WWE and Roald Dahl together - an unlikely combination you might think! Celebrating World Book Day, We were there to meet WWE's very own "BFG" Jack Swagger and learn more about the Wrestle mania - WWE's reading challenge which aims to inspire children through reading.</div><br />During the event Jack told us why he loves Roald Dahl so much, citing how he loves that Dahl's words jump off the page and create a wonderful story. For a willing and ready audience, Jack read an excerpt from The Twits with good expression and characterised the characters very well. He really engaged the children in the story and also shared one of his quotes from Roald Dahl:<br /><br /><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="color: purple;">“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.<br /><br />A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”</span></i></h1>After story time was a chance for the kids and adults to ask questions. Through a group interview, we found out that:<br /><br /><ul><li>Jacks favourite book is the Twits.</li><li>He takes Inspiration from Sophie in the BFG - you may be tiny but you can be the whole world to somebody. No matter how down you are, you can always be successful.</li><li>Jack chose to become a wrestler from age of five as he loved wrestling and particular wrestlers before him like Kurt Engel, Chris Jericho and the Undertaker.</li><li>He grew up and was inspired watching the movies Matilda and James and Giant Peach.</li><li>He has an English bulldog named beefcake.&nbsp;</li><li>We also found out that Jack had to write lots of Book reports at school and he advised the kids to stay in school because the smarter you are, the better sports person you will be. Whilst some children may think that literacy doesn't apply to them because they want to be a sportsman (perhaps a famous footballer or rugby player), actually sports is always evolving, so some children may not see the point, but the smarter you are, the more it will help you learn how to take care of your body. However you take care of your body, you must also take care of your mind.&nbsp;</li><li>As Jack is really tall, he was actually directed towards basketball at school but he really wanted to do wrestling.&nbsp;</li><li>Jack's final piece of advice was that can do everything - you just have to believe!</li></ul><br />My girls definitely enjoyed the event and found it very inspiring meeting Jack and learning more about Roald Dahl.<br /><br />The event was followed by a visit around the museum. Where the children had lots of fun enjoying all of the different activities and exhibits that the Museum offers.<br /><br />Thanks to the Roald Dahl museum and WW E for inviting us.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Disclosure: we were invited to the event and received a free goodie bag.</i></b></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/03/wwe-at-roald-dahl-museum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-1643898143942933105Mon, 09 Mar 2015 01:40:00 +00002015-03-09T01:41:16.921+00:00celebratingfamilyA Celebratory Weekend away We've been busy again recently!! Last week we took a trip to see Matilda the Musical which was fantastic. It is hands down one of the best musicals we have ever seen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vo6PN0eSnFQ/VPz4usnirGI/AAAAAAAAAqw/woYalXrjepE/s1600/Matilda%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vo6PN0eSnFQ/VPz4usnirGI/AAAAAAAAAqw/woYalXrjepE/s1600/Matilda%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br />This was followed by a weekend in a hotel to celebrate the in-laws fifty years of marriage which is quite something isn't it!<br /><br />The girls of course had a wonderful time - too many late nights in bed, but hey, it's only once every so often!<br /><br />We ended up with a suite after a small bone of contention with our sardine-like family room and so the kids ended up with their own bedroom and a TV of their own - which was heaven for them - we had to prise them away.. but then, that's half the fun of staying in Hotels!<br /><br />We also had our first trip to the beach of the year, when we left the mainland briefly and drove to Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey. It was a very cold and windy visit but a beautiful day!<br /><br />Here are some pictures from our weekend:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXh1u7mKxgY/VPz40pNdu1I/AAAAAAAAAq8/zqfa0BZKtNo/s1600/wedding%2Banniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXh1u7mKxgY/VPz40pNdu1I/AAAAAAAAAq8/zqfa0BZKtNo/s1600/wedding%2Banniversary.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVTahYnGJv4/VPz40uA3enI/AAAAAAAAAq4/1J8CV63m4vs/s1600/sheerness%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVTahYnGJv4/VPz40uA3enI/AAAAAAAAAq4/1J8CV63m4vs/s1600/sheerness%2B1.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/03/a-celebratory-weekend-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-4828489474135995322Tue, 17 Feb 2015 01:46:00 +00002015-02-17T01:46:45.581+00:00poker all in kitchenpop up restaurantFeatured Post: All-In-Kitchen Restaurant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_rAmOrae7M/VOKVOihfQwI/AAAAAAAAAqM/IyVN7OS_ITU/s1600/Poker-Made-Easy-Cheat-Sheet-pokerstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_rAmOrae7M/VOKVOihfQwI/AAAAAAAAAqM/IyVN7OS_ITU/s1600/Poker-Made-Easy-Cheat-Sheet-pokerstars.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">he <a href="http://www.pokerstars.uk/en/blog/tournaments/ukipt/2015/shuffle-up-for-the-ukipt-all-in-kitchen-153559.shtml">worlds first pay-by-poker restaurant,</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">has been created which seeks to combine poker with gourmet food.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">PokerStars and Jones &amp; Sons have teamed up to create&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">the "All-In Kitchen", a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;new innovative pop-up restaurant</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;which&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">celebrates the new season of the UK and&nbsp;Ireland Poker Tour.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #21211f; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The concept of the restaurant is that how much you pay for your meal is decided by the hand of poker you play. After a successful first pop-up, the experience will now be rolled out nationwide across all UKIPT stops during the tour.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The idea is that you pay three hands of poker, then the amount of chips you have left at the end of the three hands determines how much you pay for your meal - whether it's £10, £5 or nothing at all! &nbsp;The meal consists of three courses plus a cocktail - so an absolute bargain however you look at it!</span></div><br /><center style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #21211f; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 12.1000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></center><center style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #21211f; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 12.1000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The All-In Kitchen is an opportunity for customers to have fun. Customers can either pay the full price for their meal, or play poker to win their meal for less or free - the poker is optional!! &nbsp;</span></span></center><br /><div><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><center style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #21211f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 12.1000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></center><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/en/blog/all-in-kitchen_food.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #1b7f8d; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></a></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/02/featured-post-all-in-kitchen-restaurant.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-6696746394615988700Tue, 03 Feb 2015 03:25:00 +00002015-02-03T03:28:05.677+00:00stolen bag Hemelstolen hand bagtips if you lose your handbagThe Stolen Handbag is Returned!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Friday I had my handbag stolen from the front seat of my car in my local Tesco's car park whilst I was loading my shopping into the car. It was a split second occurrence which I didn't even register until I saw my phone laying on the floor near my car and was confused as to how it got there, which was then coupled with the sudden realisation of what had happened as it dawned on me that my handbag had been stolen.</div><br />Thank the lord, my mobile phone fell out of the bag as the thief was running away as ironically, that was probably the most valuable thing that was in there in terms of monetary value. I never carry cash around me, apart from the odd five pound note and some change, but my bag was very big and heavy thanks to the huge diary, purse full of cards, countless receipts, and various notebooks I carry around with me and so I am guessing they possibly thought they would find some valuables in there - perhaps a laptop of tablet or too or a fairly significant wad of cash.<br /><br />A witness saw it happen and said that the thief had been watching me from their car - quite a scary thought. I consider myself to be quite a street-savvy person with my wits about me, so I am most annoyed that they managed to catch me at one of the times I was most preoccupied, worrying about whether I had everything for eldest's impending birthday. They obviously intended to target someone, so on the plus side, one could say that it least it was me, with not much of financial value in my bag, and not some poor old lady with her weekly stash of cash in the bag who may have lost more and been affected more. I also think I would have been completely lost without my phone, much more upset, and I know I wouldn't have got it back, so I am so grateful that the universe intervened and it fell out of the bag as they ran.<br /><br />Although there was nothing of much monetary value in there, to me my filofax, and the work notebooks I carry along with a special birth announcements book I was carrying for work were actually very valuable to me and I was so upset I had lost stuff which was so personal to me, along with a couple of hundred business cards in various boxes which again had no monetary value to the thieves but were worth a lot to me in terms of the cost to replace them and the amoun of personal information accessible in my bag,<br /><br />The ex-cops in my family suspected that this was a classic run and grab case and that the bag would be dumped, as the thief didn't have the brain cells to steal the blue tooth handset on the seat, or the change sitting on the top of the dashboard so they were purely chancers rather than organised criminals. Nethertheless, the weekend has been spent cancelling all of my cards and trying to rework my diary through various phone calls and various facebook pleas, and also trying to make a list of what was lost.<br /><br />Today, three days later, my handbag was found in a ditch, around ten miles away from where I live. by two lovely lady dog walkers. Most of the contents of the handbag were still there - along with my filofax and all my notebooks etc with my priceless information in, Unfortunately, the thieves left everything strewn all over the place. They must have basically emptied out my bag, taken what they thought had any value (hardly anything - a bit of change, a purse spray, lipstick and perhaps a couple of other bits) and just left everything else strewn out over the muddy ditch, exposed to the elements. Ironically, I am pretty sure that the only thing they were looking for was cash which I never carry, or tech equipment which there was none in there. What upsets me most was that as they left everything out, everything is absolutely ruined. So not only did they steal my stuff, they then couldn't even be bothered to put it back in the bag in the vague hope that some of it wouldn't be ruined for it's original owner. I will have to buy a new filofax and notebooks, and new business cards, and try to salvage and dry out some of the receipts, so it is costing me a bit of money to replace it all - although at least the information is not lost.<br /><br />I suppose I am giving the thieves too much credit as why would I not expect these low lives to have a complete lack of respect for peoples stuff or empathy for the people they steal from. All I can say is that I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around and so I am hoping that karma will come and bite them firmly on the backside and soon, so if by chance the thieves are reading this as you now have all of my personal info - I sincerely hope that it really does!<br /><br />The lessons I have learnt from this are:<br /><br />1) Never carry huge amounts of cash with you.<br />2) Try to limit the amount of stuff you carry around, and take stuff out of your handbag regularly.<br />3) Be on guard especially in public places such as car parks and supermarkets and town centres which thieves seem to target.<br />4) Always open the boot and lock your car if you can, or check your surroundings when loading stuff into the car, and make sure you lock it as you return the trollley.<br />5) Alternatively, keep your bag with you at all times.<br />6) Don't think you won't be targeted and be blase.<br />7) Back up your diary online - Although I did have some appointments in my online diary. I will definitely be putting everything in there from now on!!<br />8) Don't carry all of the business cards you own in one place!<br />9) Perhaps invest in a smaller shoulder bag for shopping if you can.<br />10)There are some lovely people in the world who try to make wrongs right! I have also had some lovely messages of support from friends and family and I valued everything single one.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QO_xFS-d4SQ/VNAzA84XzJI/AAAAAAAAEWg/DMmZfHeEBSI/s1600/2015-02-02%2B14.36.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QO_xFS-d4SQ/VNAzA84XzJI/AAAAAAAAEWg/DMmZfHeEBSI/s1600/2015-02-02%2B14.36.37.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">The ditch my bag was dumped in</td></tr></tbody></table><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/02/the-stolen-handbag-is-returned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-5838807657785469983Tue, 03 Feb 2015 02:11:00 +00002015-02-03T02:11:01.826+00:00happy birthday!Happy Birthday Eldest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIAwPnpME5w/VNAYVTiJQoI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/vRK-A08Vz9E/s1600/eldest%2B8%2Bbirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIAwPnpME5w/VNAYVTiJQoI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/vRK-A08Vz9E/s1600/eldest%2B8%2Bbirthday.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Eight years ago, I had a brand new newborn, which is pretty hard to believe! &nbsp;So much has happened since then, but I still remember like it was yesterday, the day we took her home after two days of being in special care, which was eight years ago today.<br /><br />Since then she has grown and flourished in so many ways and now we have a brand new shiny eight year old to look after and each year brings with it fresh parenting lessons. She is growing so fast!!<br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/02/happy-birthday-eldest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-1748863721182577792Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:38:00 +00002015-01-17T03:38:15.306+00:00stop calling swintonswinton cold callingswinton customer serviceStop Calling Me SwintonsThis week I have been hounded by Swintons Insurance and so here is my little message to them!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JWANcdBRyfE" width="560"></iframe></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/01/stop-calling-me-swintons.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-2601386820348148461Fri, 02 Jan 2015 04:23:00 +00002015-01-02T04:23:53.873+00:00christmas and new yearfamily life treat as they stayed upAnd so that was Christmas 2014!!Funny how life gets in the way of blogging so quickly isn't it! We have had such a busy December that it's been hard to keep track of it! What with all of the lovely things we have done, plus work, and school Christmas activities, it was definitely a busy old month. Here is what we got up to:<br /><br />The Christmas Season started with a visit for Eldest and I to see The Vienna Ballet performing The Nutcracker. She loves Ballet as do I so it was a real treat! The Vienna Ballet were absolutely fantastic and the icing on the cake was that eldest got to meet them all afterwards - very exciting for her!<br /><br />On December the first the elves came to visit and stayed with us until Christmas Eve. The girls love their #Elfontheshelf and the antics they get up to during our stay. We also decorated the house in early December. I love decorating for Christmas, although it's not always as fun taking it down once January arrives!<br /><br />The girls sang and eldest played violin and recorder in their Music School Christmas Recital during mid December. The girls love going to Music School each Saturday and so it was brilliant to see what they have been doing behind closed doors all term! We also went to see Singalong Frozen at the newly opened Odyssey Cinema in St Albans with friends which was a real treat. The film was the first showing there and so it was really special. We also went back to the Odyssey during Christmas and New Year to see "Alexander and the terrible, no good, very bad day, which was absolutely fantastic.<br /><br />Hubby and I celebrated a rare night out and went to a Carol Concert at Wrest Park which was a lovely night. (although I think I did fall asleep at one point as it was so relaxing!!) Our English Heritage Membership has definitely paid off this year as we love visiting their properties!<br /><div><br /></div>Both girls took part in their Christmas School Concert. Youngest was an angel and eldest had a speaking part. They also finished the term with a beautiful Christingle service.<br /><br />We were lucky to book a spot for Breakfast with Santa at Notcutts in St Albans which was a brilliant experience - and one which we intend to book far earlier next Christmas! The girls got to meet Santa and he spent quite a while chatting with them at their table, followed by a story and presents! A very festive experience.<br /><br />On Christmas Eve we attended our Church Crib Service which was lovely as always. The kids and their friends sang a very rousing version of "We Three Kings" far louder than everyone else which had the back rows in hysterics. On Christmas Eve night we had our annual Family Buffet, followed by Reindeer Food sprinkling and tracking Santa on Norad.<br /><br />Christmas Day bought a new onesie for hubby and new tablets for the girls, (thankfully with parental controls which hubby is overseeing!). We spent Christmas Day with family with me cooking for dinner and tea. Daddy got a rather fetching new "Daddy Pig" (who ate all the mince pies) T-shirt emphatically chosen by youngest. On Boxing Day we went to Dunstable to see "Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood" which was lots of fun. We do love a bit of Panto on Boxing Day (Oh yes we do!).<br /><br />The rest of Christmas consisted of more visits to family and friends and another two Christmas gatherings, with lots of delicious food! On New Years Eve the girls had a treat as they stayed up until midnight. Both made it! We played Scrabble, ate lots and saw the Fireworks at Midnight, followed by two little ones off to bed very soon after!<br /><br />We had a fantastic family Christmas and New Year and although it was busy before Christmas, it was great to spend time chilling out between Christmas and New Year.<br /><br />Back to work and Back to School next week - Boo!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LiFcp94QQN0/VKYXc_QBC3I/AAAAAAAAEVA/tGyUQ72mWXg/s1600/christmas%2B2014%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LiFcp94QQN0/VKYXc_QBC3I/AAAAAAAAEVA/tGyUQ72mWXg/s1600/christmas%2B2014%2Bcollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2015/01/and-so-that-was-christmas-2014.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-2133286592617684013Mon, 15 Dec 2014 02:24:00 +00002014-12-15T08:11:00.640+00:00Asus zenfone budget phone reviewasus zenfone5lte reviewzenfone 5 lte review#ZentasticXmas Asus Zenfone 5LTE Review<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duAQAdbQgas/VI4mVTsBdnI/AAAAAAAAApk/I9K1vIdiRQo/s1600/zenfone5lte%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duAQAdbQgas/VI4mVTsBdnI/AAAAAAAAApk/I9K1vIdiRQo/s1600/zenfone5lte%2B3.jpg" height="400" width="213" /></a>The chance to review a brand new phone doesn't come up very often and so when I agreed to review an Android phone, I was some what setting myself the challenge of getting to grips with Android Software. I am a self-confessed Apple Geek and have always firmly steered clear of anything containing Android software as I have previously found it hard to get to grips with. To be completely sexist, it does seem that in many households I know of (mine included) the boys covet their Android devices, whilst the girls geek out over their apple devices.<br /><br />I was sent the Asus Zenfone 5 LTE to review, with the brief of focusing on the set up and overall functionality of the phone, along with a Christmassy spin by focusing on the camera's low-light mode which is perfect for taking pictures of all of the wonderful Christmas Lights adorning our homes at the moment. The Asus Zenfone 5 LTE is one of the first 4G Lte Smart Phones of its kind. Here are some of my thoughts on the phone.<br /><br /><b><u>Sim and Battery Life</u></b><br />One for the bug bears with my current phone is how quickly it runs out of battery. I charged the Zen phone up and didn't have to charge it again for almost two days. This is longer than most other phones I have owned. There is also a smart saver mode on the Zenphone, which offers three options for battery charging. This enables your battery to stay alive for longer. The phone takes a Micro Sim as do many other smart phones, and so I was easily able to transfer the Sim from my own phone to this one.<br /><br /><b><u>Appearance</u></b><br />The Asus Zenfone 5 Lte is labelled as a "budget" smart phone. However, the handset has the look and feel of it's more expensive competitors. The overall look is very sleek and professional, although I have to say that the phone does not have much grip, but this could be rectified with a case of some kind. The bezel metal buttons on the side are not something you would expect to see on a handset costing around £200. These make a great addition to the phone and are a nice touch which add to the overall appearance. One downside might be that the physical buttons on the Zenfone 5 Lte appear at the bottom of the screen and actually bump up the overall size of the phone, whereas on other more expensive Asus models, the buttons are built into the software as part of the screen - allowing for a slightly bigger screen and a slightly smaller phone overall. However, given the budget price, you can't have everything, and for me, this did not detract from the appearance of the handset.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgfaltVSK2I/VI5Ckshc-LI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Ys8mT8Rl3Oo/s1600/2014-12-15%2B01.46.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgfaltVSK2I/VI5Ckshc-LI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Ys8mT8Rl3Oo/s1600/2014-12-15%2B01.46.25.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><b><u>Set-Up</u></b><br />For someone who has never used an android phone before, I was surprised at how fantastically simple and easy the initial set up was. The phone has a basic wizard which links straight into your google account, bringing across all of the settings from existing applications. One consideration to be aware of though - when the phone was set up, there were several system updates which needed to be done, both on the Asus side and also the google side, which wasn't necessarily immediately obvious, and so this took a little bit of time. The phone was very simple to get to grips with and use quite quickly. I wouldn't say I am overly techie when it comes to phones, and so the fact it was so simple to use is testament to Asus, that unlike other phones, you don't need a degree in computer science to set up the phone, and it really is accessible to everyone.<br /><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>The Software</u></b><br />The Zenfone is running Android software, but Asus have added their own layer of software which governs how the screen is presented, Unlike Iphone, each manufacturer adds their own layer of user interface. The Asus version is known as "Asus Touch". One of the features of Asus Touch is the "What's Next" feature. This feature gives a quick referencing timeline which instantly shows appointments, to&nbsp;do's and any other important events you want to set up like birthdays or reminders. As a busy Mum and someone who works for myself, I absolutely love this feature as it means that I can add everything that needs to be remembered in one place. I will definitely be utilising this feature of the phone.<br /><br />Asus&nbsp;have cleverly set their software to be separate from google's software in the default view. There is a folder of Asus Software and a folder of Google software, making it easier for the user to separate which application they would like to use. Some Android phones don't offer this function, and so it is a valuable one to have as it can become a bit confusing deciding between some applications which might do the same thing.<br /><br />We tested the Zenfone for functionality, and here is what our testing software came up with:<br /><b>CPU&nbsp;</b>- Good, supports large apps and multi&nbsp;-tasking<br /><b>RAM</b>&nbsp;- Excellent,<br /><b>2D Graphics</b>&nbsp;- Good<br /><b>3D Graphics</b>&nbsp;Good<br /><b>Fluently supports most games.&nbsp;</b>However,<b>&nbsp;</b>the processor is only 1.2ghz, and so it's performance in gaming may not be up to parr with more expensive models.<br /><br /><b><u>The Screen</u></b><br />The screen, whilst only displaying 720p rather than 1080p is very good quality. The image quality is fantastic. The text quality on screen is also sharp and readable - which is good for a five inch screen of this size for the price. Although other phones of this size have higher resolution displays, like the LGG2, and Sony Experia Z2 &nbsp;this handset is around half the price of other phones and can easily compete with screen quality. The screen is also very responsive for touch gestures and it did what I asked of it, without diverting to other applications.<br /><br /><b><u>Visual and Audio Quality</u></b><br />The quality of video streaming is very good. I tested Netflix, Youtube and BBC IPlayer and was able to get a great picture from all of them. Audio quality on video is very loud without being distorted. However, the speaker is on the back of the unit, and so you need to make sure you don't cover up the speaker whilst holding it, or the sound quality is compromised.<br /><br />The actual phone call quality was as good as you would expect from a modern phone, although this seems to be less of a concern to people these days, versus other aspects such as camera functionality and internet usage.<br /><br /><b><u>Functionality</u></b><br />I have to admit that as I have quite large hands, I did find it a little hard to type due to the small size of the letter keys. I also found typing with the default keyboard a little tricky, as the keyboard did not understand some more specialist words I was hoping to use. However, this lack of keyboard functionality can be rectified by downloading a different keyboard from the Google Play store such as "Swift Key" where you can change the size of the keys. <br /><br />In terms of the applications, youngest loved the "Ok&nbsp;google" mode which is quite simple to use on an Android device She soon started asking Google questions, which included how long until Santa comes!! I was very surprised that I found it so easy to get to grips with where everything was and how everything worked. I can see myself becoming an android convert potentially!<br /><br /><b><u>Camera Features:</u></b><br /><ul><li>A500KL has two built-in cameras</li><li>Main 8-megapixel PixelMaster camera for professional-looking photos.</li><li>Backside-illumination (BSI) sensor and wide-aperture f/2.0, 5-element lens&nbsp;</li><li>Exclusive ASUS PixelMaster technology to capture images that are on par with most standalone digital cameras.</li><li>2-megapixel front camera comes with an f/2.8 lens.&nbsp;</li><li>PixelMaster technology improves camera performance&nbsp;</li><li>Features like Selfie and Low-light modes</li></ul><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z2VRbRocME/VI5Ck9Yun0I/AAAAAAAAAp4/qnc2-2hOFuQ/s1600/2014-12-15%2B01.46.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z2VRbRocME/VI5Ck9Yun0I/AAAAAAAAAp4/qnc2-2hOFuQ/s1600/2014-12-15%2B01.46.40.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Camera Modes</u></b><br />As an avid instagrammer, I only ever use my phone for taking pictures. I don't seem to have the patience for a DSLR camera, and so the way my camera phone operates, and the quality and variety of images it can offer really matters to me.<br /><b><u><br /></u></b>The 8mp camera on the Zenfone 5LTE is backed up with a very ambitious camera software, which may partly be more suited to a higher spec camera, but which also works well on the some of the modes. I got some really good photos from the camera, but there was varying degrees of success depending on the subject and the camera mode. Some of the modes worked brilliantly, and others left the image a little blurry.<br /><br />As part of my review, I was&nbsp;asked to focus on the Low-Light Camera mode of the Asus Zenfone Lte. With so many lovely Christmas lights around at the moment, this was the perfect opportunity to take some truly christmassy pics. The Low Light mode which I was focusing on works really well, and is a real strength of the camera. Without the right lighting conditions, camera phones can be a bit hit and miss in low light, and so it is a real selling point that this mode produces great results.<br /><br />Take a look at these pictures all taken in low-light mode - they definitely show the capabilities of the low lighting mode.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azmLFGB6MWA/VI4lyWP8ccI/AAAAAAAAApM/VShP6dSu1fQ/s1600/zenfone5lte1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azmLFGB6MWA/VI4lyWP8ccI/AAAAAAAAApM/VShP6dSu1fQ/s1600/zenfone5lte1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCeaS-tiv0o/VI4ly7swHYI/AAAAAAAAApQ/vVB6sdhWGIk/s1600/zenfone5lte%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCeaS-tiv0o/VI4ly7swHYI/AAAAAAAAApQ/vVB6sdhWGIk/s1600/zenfone5lte%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Aswell as the low lighting mode, we also loved the "Time Rewind" camera feature. This is a lifesaver for parents with children like mine who can't keep still to get a decent image. The minute I point a camera at them, they start jumping around and make the picture blurry. Time Rewind Mode takes three seconds worth of photos, and then allows you to swipe back though them, locate the best picture and save that one - great for trying to get that all important shot with the kids.<br /><br />Hubby, as a long time Android user was surprised that the camera features on the phone were so robust - much more functional than his more expensive android handset. He was especially impressed with the panorama view, the selfie mode using facial recognition, the low light mode, the time rewind mode and depth of field modes. There is even a mode for making gif animations - none of these feature on his phone. He is in fact quite jealous of my new phone and the functionality which the camera has!!<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Added Extras</u></b><br />Glove Mode! It has glove mode!! Another bug bear of mine with my current phone with this cold weather at the moment, gloves are a must, and so the fact that you can use your phone with gloves is absolutely amazing. I will definitely be holding onto this handset throughout the winter if I can use my gloves with it!<br /><br /><br />This Smartphone would make a fantastic Christmas gift, for adults and older kids alike. It is a really good all-round smart phone at a low price. You are getting all of the features of a £400 handset, (with some technical downgrades) to allow for a cheaper price. The phone retails at around £199.99. My impressions are that the Asus Zenfone 5 Lte it is a brilliant phone with some great features for a very reasonable price. I love the camera mode, I love the glove mode, and I also love the look and feel of the camera. Although not as technologically loaded as other phones, this phone definitely gets a thumbs up in my book!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Disclosure: Zenfone offered in consideration for review.&nbsp;</u></b></div><br /><br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/12/zentasticxmas-asus-zenfone-5lte-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-1552146633759226374Sun, 14 Dec 2014 23:10:00 +00002014-12-14T23:10:30.960+00:00get santaget santa reviewGet Santa Film Review<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UP5aGOpOnU0/VI4Pp8kQBbI/AAAAAAAAAo8/jHaSjnVpIWA/s1600/2014-11-15%2B12.25.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UP5aGOpOnU0/VI4Pp8kQBbI/AAAAAAAAAo8/jHaSjnVpIWA/s1600/2014-11-15%2B12.25.44.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Recently, the girls and I were invited to the preview of <a href="https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/movies/get-santa" rel="nofollow">"Get Santa"</a>&nbsp;in London. There were plenty of activities to get them in the Christmas spirit before the film including face painting, stocking decorating and letter writing to Santa - the girls were in Christmas heaven!<br /><br />I meanwhile was more concerned with the film. I love a good Christmas film. I look forward to the time of year when I can start indulging in Christmas Films and watching them back-to-back.<br /><br />Enter "Get Santa". Get Santa, directed by Chris Smith, stars Jim Broadbent as Santa, and Rafe Spall, Jodie Whitaker, Kit Connor, Warwick Davis, Joanna Scanlon and Nonso Anozie amongst others.<br /><br />Described by Chris Smith as "a fantasy with a subtext", Get Santa is a family adventure film about how nine year old Tom (Kit Connor) reconnects with his ex-con Dad Steve (Rafe Spall). Tom has to convince Steve that Santa has crash landed in London, days before Christmas, and needs their help to get back to Lapland in time for Christmas Eve. Meanwhile Santa is looking for his reindeer and sleigh which he has lost around the city and ends up in a sticky situation behind bars.Only Steve and Tom can help him now!<br /><br />We loved "Get Santa". I thought that the film was well pitched to the kids. My seven year old loved it, although the five year old did get a bit fidgety, so I think slightly older children would enjoy the film more. The film was a really original and different twist on a Christmas story, The seven year old described it as "kind of like harry potter, and kind of like home alone, with a bit of Elf thrown in too".<br /><br />Jim Broadbent makes a fantastic Father Christmas and I can't think of another actor who would be better suited. This is a terrific film for both adults and kids to watch. I would definitely recommend a trip to the cinema to see this film as it will help get everyone in the Christmas spirit.&nbsp;<div><br />Released by Warner Bros, Get Santa is now widely available to watch in cinemas across the UK. Go and see it - It's ace!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2ueM5ubITk/VI4PKZWP-rI/AAAAAAAAAo0/apYMEeCv1wA/s1600/get%2Bsanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2ueM5ubITk/VI4PKZWP-rI/AAAAAAAAAo0/apYMEeCv1wA/s1600/get%2Bsanta.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Disclosure: Free Tickets to the preview offered in consideration for review</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/12/get-santa-film-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-4720192842015614108Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:05:00 +00002014-12-05T00:05:50.938+00:00Star WarsStar Wars Mad!Today I am sharing a video of Hubby watching the new Star Wars Trailer. He is a huge Star Wars fan and has been ever since he was a child. He is &nbsp;still like an excited child when it comes to anything Star Wars related and he absolutely can't wait for the new film!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pvQzo9CYjSQ/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/pvQzo9CYjSQ?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/pvQzo9CYjSQ?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/12/star-wars-mad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-7502657252491038131Mon, 17 Nov 2014 02:12:00 +00002014-11-17T02:12:27.972+00:00family bloggingfamily lifefamily timeRemember Remember Family Fun in November!Well It's been rather a busy month! Here's what we have been doing so far with our November:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-F5PCS10cU/VGlVA64T6HI/AAAAAAAAAoM/2FKIvjm_cxY/s1600/nov%2Bfireworks%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-F5PCS10cU/VGlVA64T6HI/AAAAAAAAAoM/2FKIvjm_cxY/s1600/nov%2Bfireworks%2B14.jpg" height="211" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Despite the rain, we enjoyed a very wet bonfire night. We went to the local display in Watford with Nanny and the display was very impressive as always with lots of big bangs! The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzGbo1QS29A/VGlVCPY1UjI/AAAAAAAAAog/wM96VSoqqsU/s1600/wrest%2Bpark%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzGbo1QS29A/VGlVCPY1UjI/AAAAAAAAAog/wM96VSoqqsU/s1600/wrest%2Bpark%2Bcollage.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are English Heritage Members and so have loved using our membership this year to visit Wrest Park in Beds. Wrest Park is beautiful in all seasons, but I especially loved the autumnal colour of the trees during this visit. I also took some lovely pictures of youngest and Daddy, despite her having a tantrum on the long walk around the gardens!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3LseQ81GQM/VGlVBUR3UhI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/d6X4CAJ-KBw/s1600/poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3LseQ81GQM/VGlVBUR3UhI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/d6X4CAJ-KBw/s1600/poppies.jpg" height="213" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Hubby took me to see the Poppies on my Birthday which was on Remembrance Day. We arrived for 11am when the last post was played, and so it was a very special poignant moment to be part of history celebrating one hundred years since the start of World War One, and remembering all those who have fallen in the line of duty. We then enjoyed a day in London where we walked up the South Bank, and saw the Shard and Houses of Parliament. We also visited the German Christmas Market and ate at a lovely Pizza place, so it was a lovely birthday. I then took the kids back to visit Hamleys in London at the weekend and to attend the premiere of "Get Santa", which I will be telling you all about soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuQis7XuFBA/VGlVBWv2KnI/AAAAAAAAAoU/7-RxO1FR0ng/s1600/london%2Bchristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuQis7XuFBA/VGlVBWv2KnI/AAAAAAAAAoU/7-RxO1FR0ng/s1600/london%2Bchristmas.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So there you go - a little update of how our November has been so far!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/11/remember-remember-family-fun-in-november.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-8077054127765310496Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:30:00 +00002014-11-02T14:30:53.358+00:00silent sundaySilent Sunday 2/11/14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRr3bmcT88o/VFY_4EPyblI/AAAAAAAAEP4/3jZvjoDytoM/s1600/silent%2Bsunday%2B21114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRr3bmcT88o/VFY_4EPyblI/AAAAAAAAEP4/3jZvjoDytoM/s1600/silent%2Bsunday%2B21114.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cosmicgirlie.com/silent-sunday/"><img alt="" src="http://www.cosmicgirlie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Silent-Sunday.jpg" /></a></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/11/silent-sunday-21114.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-8182451983535984877Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:34:00 +00002014-10-21T13:34:29.265+01:00qhotelsfamilyambassador competition#QHotelsFamilyAmbassador Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Recently I entered the QHotels Family Ambassador Competition, and was shortlisted. You can<a href="http://www.thevegetarianexperience.co.uk/2014/09/an-entry-for-qhotels-family-ambassador.html">&nbsp;see our entry here&nbsp;</a>. The girls were the first of the competition applicants to make videos, and others followed suit after seeing our videos on how the girls would revamp the Quackers Packs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It would be great to win, and get the chance to help improve the Quackers Pack, and improve a stay at a QHotel for families.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We would LOVE a vote to help us to win if you would be willing. Just click on the badge below, and search Clare Rudd.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you also want to tweet "I just voted for @justdoitmummy (Clare Rudd) in the QHotelsFamilyAmbassador Competition - You can too http://www.qhotels.co.uk/family-ambassador/" it would be much appreciated&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks so much!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.qhotels.co.uk/family-ambassador/" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W_YwiMwSCag/VEZOlKQDrXI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/ta8rQu7dFUE/s1600/clareruddqhotel.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/10/qhotelsfamilyambassador-competition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-5692252092895256754Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:43:00 +00002014-10-14T11:43:14.628+01:00helping kids with computing curriculumNEW COMPUTING CURRICULUMMicrosoft and Dept for Education Event - New Computing Curriculum for ParentsThis year, a new curriculum has been introduced in schools across the UK. Along with that comes a computing curriculum, which aims to prepare kids more practically and creatively for the world of technology. I was invited to Microsoft Headquarters by the Department of Education to find out how parents can support kids with the new computing curriculum.<br /><br />I would say that hubby and I are quite computer literate, and would be able to help our kids with any IT homework, however, many parents may not be quite so able to help kids learn what they need to. I have to admit, that even someone as computer literate as myself does get lost when I hear my daughter start talking about Minecraft and the "worlds" she has built.<br /><br />At Microsoft, we were given an introduction to various people working within the IT industry, to explain how parents could help support their kids with discovering technology.<br /><br />First we heard from&nbsp;<b><i>Simon Humphreys, National Coordinator, Computing at School</i></b> (CAS), who spoke to us about how Computing in the curriculum has changed. At school, I remember the extent of our computer GCSE learning how to make a database - something I have never done since, and something which I was terrible at! I don't remember it really preparing me for the world of technology in terms of the world wide web which was just becoming main stream as I left school.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pgQ8LTI2Ww8/VDexbNqM4bI/AAAAAAAAAnI/aUsI4mDdWVY/s1600/coding%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pgQ8LTI2Ww8/VDexbNqM4bI/AAAAAAAAAnI/aUsI4mDdWVY/s1600/coding%2Bcollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>I loved the way that Simon described technology as no longer being "just for geeks". These days, everyone carries various mini computers around - phones, tablets, laptops, even credit cards are all essentially a mini computer, and so it's essential that we have a basic understanding of how these things work.<br /><br />Next we heard from <i style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa Percy, Executive Producer, BBC BiteSize, </i>who spoke about what help there is for parents in supporting kids through the new computing curriculum. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/topics/z3tbwmn">BBC Bitesize</a> have <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28984411">begun a coding push</a>, which starts right from the youngest age, and goes all the way through, with age appropriate content aimed to support the National Curriculum. There is some great stuff on the Bitesize website which is really accessible for parents and kids.<br /><br />We then heard from <b><i>Hugh Milward, Corporate Affairs Director, Microsoft UK</i></b>, who spoke to us about why the new curriculum was so important for the continuation of UK Industry. Did you know that Japan is leading the way with educating Computer Engineers? Microsoft hopes that the new curriculum will help create more specialists from the UK. I think that the UK definitely needs to up our game when it comes to being a leader in technology.<br /><br />Next, came&nbsp;<i style="font-weight: bold;">Dr Bill Mitchell - Director, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, </i>who spoke to us about&nbsp;Computing without computers – Fun ways to teach computing, without computers. I thought that this was really interesting, that children can learn about Algorithms, without even touching a computer, as the slides below show!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiZEfzrf8yc/VDexafRUjvI/AAAAAAAAAnE/mImDHeBnu2g/s1600/coding%2Bcollage%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiZEfzrf8yc/VDexafRUjvI/AAAAAAAAAnE/mImDHeBnu2g/s1600/coding%2Bcollage%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following this, we heard about the coding programme "Kodu", and got to have a go at building our own computer game using "Kodu". It was a really interesting insight into the world of coding, and it definitely made me feel more confident helping the kids with coding and computing. I could see my kids getting really into Kodu, and probably even taking over and getting on with it themselves, rather than me trying to "teach" them how to do it. Kids these days just seem to be able to pick up technology and use it, and sometimes even better than the adults!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWSEcHudIEo/VDexaytjr-I/AAAAAAAAAnM/jIqSnZ6L75Q/s1600/coding%2BCollage%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWSEcHudIEo/VDexaytjr-I/AAAAAAAAAnM/jIqSnZ6L75Q/s1600/coding%2BCollage%2B3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some great links to help your kids with Computing:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zyhbwmn">BBC Bitesize&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.kodugamelab.com/">Kodu</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.codeclub.org.uk/start-a-club/parents" rel="nofollow">Code Club</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/10/microsoft-and-dept-for-education-event.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-3133171735302552770Mon, 13 Oct 2014 14:51:00 +00002014-10-13T15:52:00.466+01:00I love autumnreasons to love Autumnreasons why i love AutumnReasons to Love Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROYeXd7eB1M/VDvhxNrcN8I/AAAAAAAAAns/Wjn-ulBxj4w/s1600/red%2Bleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROYeXd7eB1M/VDvhxNrcN8I/AAAAAAAAAns/Wjn-ulBxj4w/s1600/red%2Bleaves.jpg" height="400" width="333" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROYeXd7eB1M/VDvhxNrcN8I/AAAAAAAAAns/Wjn-ulBxj4w/s1600/red%2Bleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>Today I am reminded of all the reasons why I love Autumn, which is my favourite time of year. I took this picture of a tree nearby, which just reminds me of how absolutely beautiful Autumn really is. These trees, are the kind of trees which really do reflect the seasons well. They display the starkness of Winter, the blossoms of Spring, the rich green leaves of Summer, and of course, the glorious reds of Autumn. My kids call them the "fire trees". I think they definitely live up to their name! They get redder and redder throughout Autumn, before shedding their leaves for Winter. &nbsp;Autumn is always typically one of my favourite times of year. There is so much fun stuff which happens in Autumn and which is leading up to Christmas.&nbsp;</div><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>Reasons I love Autumn:</i></b><br /><ul><li><b>Red Leaves - </b>The trees look so beautiful this time of year. I love the reds, yellows and browns which decorate the leaves.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Dark Nights</b> - I love the dark nights, when you just want to get inside out of the cold as soon as possible. I love the warm glow emanating from houses and the twinkly lights which appear as Christmas approaches.</li><li><b>Crisp Autumn Days&nbsp;</b>- Sunny, with a crisp bite, and not too hot for a long walk.</li><li><b>Chilly Mornings</b>&nbsp;- Reaching for your dressing gown and slippers as you wake.</li><li><b>Boots!!</b>&nbsp;I get to resurrect my lovely Brown Boots from the Wardrobe</li><li><b>Bonfire Night </b>- A great British tradition, I love Bonfire Night, Fireworks, Jacket Potatoes, Baked Beans, Sausages and Sparklers - it reminds me of my childhood!</li><li><b>My Birthday</b>. I am an Autumn Baby, which I think contributes to my love of the season</li><li><b>The run-up to Christmas - </b>I am a huge Christmas fan, and just love the run up to Christmas. I've already started the shopping!</li><li><b>Autumn TV</b> - Strictly, X Factor, Downton!, Gogglebox, Greys Anatomy, and lots more fantastic TV Programmes - what's not too love? I do love a good night in snuggled up in a blanket watching TV!</li><li><b>Log Fires - </b>I am aiming for our forever house to have a Log Fire, but until then, I have a favourite pub with a wonderful fire which makes a good substitute.</li><li><b>Delicious Flavours in Season - </b>Butternut, Pumpkin, Warm Stews, Hearty Shepherds Pie, Apple Crumble. I swear these all taste better in Autumn!</li><li><b>Hot Drinks</b> - Earl Grey, Pumpkin Spiced Latte, Mulled Wine, Hot Apple Cider - all great Autumn tipples!</li></ul><div><b><i>Can you add any other reasons to love Autumn?</i></b></div>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/10/reasons-to-love-autumn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-3443637976094517971Mon, 06 Oct 2014 07:00:00 +00002014-10-06T08:00:09.869+01:00mythical maze reading challengesummer reading challengeMythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZkDJ8hEouU/VDHO5hwEHvI/AAAAAAAAAmM/0HlSG7T08Hk/s1600/mythical%2Bmaze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZkDJ8hEouU/VDHO5hwEHvI/AAAAAAAAAmM/0HlSG7T08Hk/s1600/mythical%2Bmaze.jpg" height="320" width="132" /></a></div>This week the girls collected their medals and certificates for participating in the "Mythical Maze" <a href="http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">Summer Reading Challenge</a>&nbsp;with our local library. Although summer now seems very far away, it has taken a few weeks for them to get through presenting the three hundred odd children with certificates who completed the summer reading challenge and my two were one of the last groups of children to receive theirs. The girls took part in the challenge last year too, which was "Creepy House" and had stinky stickers to collect (which were so vile!!)<br /><br />Did you know that regular reading is one of the most important factors in predicting how well children do at school - regardless of their background or demographics? I find that pretty staggering, that just by reading, your children are statistically more likely to do well at school academically. To take your child to the library, or read to them or with them is such a simple thing to do.<br /><br />This year, to successfully complete the challenge, the girls had to read six books over the summer, and then talk about them at the library with one of the staff or volunteers. I think this is a great idea as it gave them something to focus on, and also meant that we had a reason to visit the library and spend time choosing some quality books which they would have fun reading. <br /><br />The girls very much enjoyed the summer reading challenge. They couldn't wait to get to the library to talk about their books and change them. They were very proud to come to the library to collect their certificates and medals last week. The library trips are something we shall keep up, and they can't wait for the challenge next year!<br /><br /><b><i>Did your kids take part in the summer reading challenge this year?</i></b>http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/10/mythical-maze-summer-reading-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-3343073511654629245Sun, 07 Sep 2014 22:03:00 +00002014-09-07T23:03:34.349+01:00back to schoolfamily lifeBack to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aX05xZ0mUr8/VAzTUUQQVgI/AAAAAAAAAl4/xfno6K76jIk/s1600/firstdayschool14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aX05xZ0mUr8/VAzTUUQQVgI/AAAAAAAAAl4/xfno6K76jIk/s1600/firstdayschool14.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>So this week is back to school and back to reality with a bump!&nbsp;</div><br />We spent a lovely week on the island of Rhodes last week (post and pictures to follow) soaking up the sun, and swimming in the pool every day. The kids had a fantastic time. The highlight for me was not having to do any cooking for the whole week - bliss!!<br /><br />Leaving a holiday until the last week of Summer is great in theory as you have something to look forward to, and it is typically a quieter time to travel. However, it also means that as soon as the holiday finishes, you are straight back into the swing of things.<br /><br />We arrived back in the early hours of the morning to a dark and freezing cold England, and then had a couple of days at home before school started. Eldest started in Year Three - Juniors for her, and youngest in Year One, leaving Reception and the early years behind. I'm sure that this school year will bring a fresh set of challenges and highs and lows.<br /><br />Having the girls back at school has been lovely as they were ready to go back and see their friends, and I was ready to get back to working properly in the daytime. The house has seemed a little quieter and less chaotic this week! However, it is also bitter sweet as we had such a lovely summer together doing lots of fun things, and now, I lose them back to school five days a week, and the weekly Mum's Taxi Service starts up again. I don't know if anyone else finds this - but it's the Taxi Service to After School Clubs I find more stressful than anything else.<br /><br />Roll on the Christmas holidays. I already can't wait!!http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/09/back-to-school.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-7064616175228049570Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:16:00 +00002014-09-02T16:20:09.991+01:00hairspray gordon craig review.hairspray stevenage reviewkids week reviewreview kids weektiger who came to tea westend reviewwicked westend kids reviewKids Week Theatre - Wicked, The Tiger who came to Tea & Hairspray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This summer we have been to the theatre three times to see different productions, thanks in the main part to <a href="http://www.kidsweek.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">"Kids Week"</a> - the summer extravaganza where kids go free to top London shows. Here is a review of what we went to see.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwjieZv00vs/U_TCLL8YkMI/AAAAAAAAAk4/0lrpuOTwQbs/s1600/wicked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwjieZv00vs/U_TCLL8YkMI/AAAAAAAAAk4/0lrpuOTwQbs/s1600/wicked.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>Wicked</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A trip to see the West End version of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/">Wicked </a>at the start of the summer was a big treat for the whole family as Hubby, the girls and I ventured into London on a Friday night to watch the green witch do her thing. Eldest and I had been wanting to see Wicked for a long time, and so the option of free kids tickets was too good to pass up. Wicked is the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West turned "Wicked" (if you believe the hype). We had brilliant seats about two thirds of the way back in the stalls. The view was great, with or without the binoculars. Eldest as always sat mesmerised. She knows all of the songs from watching them on you tube, but it was good to see the musical in it's entirety as she didn't know the whole story with all it's twists and turns. Youngest (5) did start to get a bit restless towards the end of the first act, but still enjoyed it very much. &nbsp;They should have perhaps advertised that this was a kids week show, as there were a few whispers of disgruntlement from some about how many kids were there, and youngest actually got told to "shush" at one point when she was singing along to the Emerald City song she had learnt at school.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The highlight of the first act was "defying gravity" where the witch flies, which actually took my breath away. <a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/cast/wickedCast_EMMAHATTON.asp" rel="nofollow">Emma Hatton</a> played Elphaba and <a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/cast/wickedCast_SOPHIELINDERLEE.asp">Sophie Linder Lee</a> played Glinda. Both actresses were understudies for the roles as the main artists were in a change-over period. I was really impressed with their performances. Sometimes major names don't always live up to the hype. These two were a refreshing surprise and played their roles perfectly. Having watched Idina and Kristin as Elphaba and Glinda so much in the original Broadway version, these two were a close second to the chemistry they shared. Their performances really added to the evening.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The interval was a welcome chance to have a wander round, and also for the girls to go and visit the music pit. They loved learning about where the conductor stood and youngest couldn't believe that there were people under the stage playing the music rather than just a stereo playing. It was a great chance to show them how the theatre works, as they both love music, dancing and singing. Perhaps one day they will be on the stage!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second act was equally as fantastic. We were so impressed. We loved everything - the cast, the singing, the staging and the costumes. Everything was wonderful, and we had a great evening out. The theatre is located right outside Victoria Station, so quite easy to get to from Kings Cross and Euston. &nbsp;We found it easy to get there, get in and find our seats. The only down side was the queue for the women's toilets! Perhaps one of the men's needs to be reallocated in the theatre! As expected, drinks and snacks were quite expensive in the theatre, as to be expected in London, but you could take your own if you wanted.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids Week is such a great idea as to pay the best part of two hundred and fifty pounds at least for four top priced tickets to Wicked plus travel and food on top is a bit of a stretch for the average family, but kids week makes this more affordable. It also opens up theatre to the kids, and inspires the nest generation to aspire to be on the stage. My two are very theatrical anyway. Eldest is desperate to see Matilda, and so I think we will save up to see that perhaps at some point after Christmas!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>The Tiger who came to Tea</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYkbkDl9JkU/U_TCMpXL97I/AAAAAAAAAlA/LX5s9MoHQPw/s1600/tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYkbkDl9JkU/U_TCMpXL97I/AAAAAAAAAlA/LX5s9MoHQPw/s1600/tiger.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>We also booked Kids Week tickets for "<a href="http://www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com/tour-dates.htm#.VAXeu_ldXuI" rel="nofollow">The Tiger who came to Tea</a>" as a birthday treat for youngest who turned five this month. I have to say that I wasn't holding my breath, as I thought that a kids theatre show wouldn't be my cup of tea. However, I was really impressed with the show. There are three actors who carry the show "Sophie", "Mummy" and "Daddy" (who also moonlights as the milkman/postman and other characters). Then there is the tiger too. The characters interacted really well with each other, and also with the audience, getting them up and getting them involved. The kids absolutely loved it. Youngest was enthralled and really enjoyed joining in with the actions. It was only about an hour, and I did think the kids could have put up with a bit longer, because just as we got started, it finished, but it was a brilliant production nevertheless, and the tiger was definitely the highlight as the costume was so realistic! We also loved how the set kept changing and was able to transform without moving - very magical for little ones! I would definitely recommend a visit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>Hairspray</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to Kids Week, Eldest and I took advantage of a week-long run of an in-house production of Hairspray the Broadway Musical at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage. I was a bit concerned as to whether the quality would live up to the west-end versions, but with a professional company of actors, I was happily placated. The production was absolutely fantastic. Whilst clearly the set was not up there with a west-end budget, the quality of the performances from the company was brilliant. Particular favourites were <a href="https://twitter.com/danielpageactor">Daniel Page</a> who starred as Edna and <a href="https://twitter.com/franfenech">Fran Fenech</a> who played Tracy. Another brilliant mention goes to Mark Jardine who played Wilbur, His chemistry with Edna was fantastic. Eldest was transfixed, and she literally sang the soundtrack to Hairspray for a week after. It really captured her imagination as it was such a fantastic production. This has inspired me to support local theatre more often!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HJe2XiyQ_A/VAXRaux5gDI/AAAAAAAAAlk/zxGKCmWoEio/s1600/hairspray%2Bstevenage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HJe2XiyQ_A/VAXRaux5gDI/AAAAAAAAAlk/zxGKCmWoEio/s1600/hairspray%2Bstevenage.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/09/kids-week-theatre-wicked-tiger-who-came.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-7029921730592784162Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:12:00 +00002014-09-02T15:12:38.808+01:00audley end houseaudley end house kids reviewaudley end house reviewReview - Audley End House and Gardens Well we''ve had quite a busy summer! Now we are back with a bump to reality, I will be sharing some of the stuff that we have done over the summer, which will hopefully be of interest to you!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ynobr0XH_Cc/VAXO3j9AYLI/AAAAAAAAAlY/_mZOmF5nt6s/s1600/audley%2Bend%2Bhouse%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ynobr0XH_Cc/VAXO3j9AYLI/AAAAAAAAAlY/_mZOmF5nt6s/s1600/audley%2Bend%2Bhouse%2BCollage.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div><br />We have English Heritage membership and so took some time out over the summer to visit<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/audley-end-house-and-gardens/" rel="nofollow"> Audley End House and Gardens</a>&nbsp;in Saffron Walden, Essex. There is lots to see and do for the adults, including impressive gardens and a wonderful Mansion House which is fantastically preserved as it was in years past. There are family living quarters, servant quarters, and a working kitchen all on display, with lots of interactivity and clues into how houses functioned in their grand heyday. &nbsp;There were volunteers dressed up as characters who suggested that eldest could "get a job as a kitchen maid if she worked hard enough". It really bought history to life for the kids. Speaking of the kids, they got to dress up and play in the upstairs nursery, and go to the stables to dress up and see the horses which live there.<br /><br />The kids loved it, so did we, and we will definitely be making a return visit! There is definitely plenty to do and you could spend the whole day there. We took a picnic and sat in the impressive gardens. We also managed to catch the Paul Weller sound check which was fantastic, as the house let's out it's grounds for events. We are slowly working our way around local English heritage sites. We have visited Wrest Park, Kenilworth Castle and a couple of others. It is a great way to see historic sites and with such a low yearly fee, we have found it to be a fantastic investment!<br /><br />We finished our day with a trip to McDonalds nearby for tea, and a peek at Duxford Museum as we drove past on the way home. What a great day!!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/09/review-audley-end-house-and-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-2343690274367452312Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:44:00 +00002014-08-10T09:38:28.282+01:00friends for life v knitted vaginasrichard godwinrichard gowdin nct"Friends for Life V Knitted Vaginas" - Richard Godwin's Vitriolic Article <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzMOLDG1zhA/U-bJSMxB9wI/AAAAAAAAAko/S5nGY1Zxefw/s1600/knitted+vagina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzMOLDG1zhA/U-bJSMxB9wI/AAAAAAAAAko/S5nGY1Zxefw/s1600/knitted+vagina.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><b><i>Note: All views are my own personal opinions, and not those of any organisations which I represent.&nbsp;</i></b></div><b><i><br /></i></b>As an Antenatal Teacher and Doula, I am proud that I get to support people on their journey through childbirth and into parenthood. Over the last year, I have probably supported around 150 women and couples on their journey, and met around 150 new babies, either a few weeks after their birth, or some, immediately after birth when I have had the privilege of sharing their birth experience with them.<br /><br />So, having studied for so many years to become an Antenatal Teacher with the National Childbirth Trust, spent many hours facilitating NCT courses, witnessing births, talking to women about their experiences, and sharing views with health professionals on maternity services, I like to think that I know a fair amount about having babies and being a new parent.<br /><br />However, I happen to do quite a bit of work for the National Childbirth Trust, which I know conjures up negative images for some. Many people have NCT Practitioner's all lumped in the same boat, as people who know nothing about birth, rave about breastfeeding, and knit our own yoghurt (how does one knit their own yoghurt anyway??)<br /><br />Well, those who know me, will know that I am probably one of the least "woo woo" people going. In my classes, I deal in facts, research and most importantly choice for women, support for partner's and confidence for parenting. Most of those who attend my classes review them in a positive light (hey, you can't please everyone) and 99% of my own class attendees report back that I give them unbiased, honest and realistic information. That's why I get so annoyed when I read negative reviews of NCT classes, which assume that all NCT teacher's are the same. I also get annoyed when I read articles in the press which seek to threaten the livelihood of NCT practitioner's based on a historic preconception of the NCT, and the writer's own biases and experiences. You may well be aware how I <a href="http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2013/01/kirsty-allsopp-vs-nct-twitter-storm.html">blogged a response</a> when Kirsty Allsopp&nbsp;caused a storm on twitter regarding comments made about the NCT.<br /><br />Well, now someone else is seeking to make money off of the back of the NCT - Richard Godwin, and also essentially "Mumsnet Bumpfest" which features a host of speaker's - some qualified to be taking the stage, and some not so much perhaps. Richard Godwin is a "new parent" and advertises himself as "a special kind of c***" on his twitter feed. Enough said perhaps - especially as it seems he can't bear to think about vaginas &nbsp;- whether knitted or real, in the context of childbirth.<br /><br />A senior writer for the Evening Standard (heaven help journalism), this week Richard Godwin wrote an article berating NCT Antenatal Classes, and portraying birth as violent, and a medical event which requires scientific help and as many men there as possible. Clearly Richard is basing the article on his own experiences of birth, because in the births I have attended as a Doula, many of them were not a violent occasion, and most of them happened without a doctor present and without medical science playing a part. Still as one colleague of mine succinctly put it, can you imagine an article in the Daily Mail headlined ""I gave birth and it was all quite straightforward!" - it probably doesn't make for juicy reading.<br /><div id="yui_3_15_0_1_1407632735270_1463" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.25px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div>In an article which I suppose Richard presumed to be "tongue in cheek" and "Blokey" - what he actually achieves is to suggest that women can't do childbirth on their own, and they need a man to come and "save them" during it. He also suggests that the information given out at NCT classes has no bearing on what happens in the hospital and that NCT classes are "worse than useless". Cheers Rich, I'm glad I slog my guts out two to three times a week facilitating classes which are seemingly of no value to people!! I'm sure many of my own class attendees would refute that opinion. It's interesting that Richard formed this opinion having not attended the whole class - perhaps the information he was looking for occurred later in the course.<br /><br />Here are my own responses to some of Richard's comments, based on my own classes, which may be different to those Richard experienced. You can <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/friends-for-life-v-knitted-vaginas-richard-godwin-joins-the-antenatal-class-debate-9653557.html" rel="nofollow">read the original article here.</a><br /><br />1) The NCT is a registered charity, not a private organisation/company. Fees paid for classes go back into the charity - the money is certainly not lining the pockets of those facilitating classes.<br /><br />2) There are no knitted vaginas in my class. Truth is though, I can understand why there might be in some classes. Even though they have got this far in life, most grown-ups can't handle a picture of a real vagina attached to a women, It freaks them out. Some of the pictures I make available as an option for my clients to look at will attest to that. In the absence of the real thing, some teacher's may choose to use a substitute to demonstrate how childbirth happens.<br /><br />3) Although granted, some of my clients are middle class, many more are not, they are simply all people, having a baby at the same time, and class doesn't really come into it. Well I certainly don't divide them into "upper/middle/lower" class anymore, especially as the BBC's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973" rel="nofollow">new class test</a>&nbsp;says that it's a bit more complicated than just a three tier system.<br /><br />4) "N for natural" - not in my classes. Picture the scene, you ask a woman what her birth plan is... I'm pretty sure that ninety five percent of women are going to tell you that they want their birth to be quick and relatively painless, and they want to remain lucid and in control. Rarely would I have a woman tell me that she wants every intervention under the sun, every pain relief option possible, and she wants to be laid on a bed, strapped to a monitor and have the baby forcibly removed from her. Is this what women want? Most women in my classes certainly don't. I do talk about natural childbirth. However, I also cover assisted birth and caesarean birth as an option in my courses. The amount of women grimacing and crossing their legs at the talk of episiotomies, caesarean incisions and epidural needles in my class would suggest to me that these options are not the first choice for many women.<br /><br />5) NCT teacher's do not want to keep medical professionals at arms length. Many of us work closely and maintain links with Midwives and Doctors. Midwives are trained medical professionals and feature predominantly in childbirth at most births. Doctor's and science have their place in the birthplace, but they do not control most births. Even in the Consultant Led Unit, most of the care is delivered by midwives. Men may think that medical science is necessary for childbirth, but it really isn't.<br /><br />6) NCT teacher's don't have an "agenda" for childbirth - well I certainly don't in my classes. I want to support all women in their birth choices and as a Doula have supported parents through everything from planned caesarean births to homebirths. I believe in women's choice, and although I may not always agree with a woman's choice, it is not my role to try and talk her out of her choices, rather, I give parents information to make their own decisions based on all of the available information.<br /><br />7) Yes, more women used to die in childbirth years ago, due to poor sanitation, higher levels of poverty, and women catching diseases in hospitals. Nowadays, the mortality rates in hospitals are caused by things like contracting diseases in hospital, human error, complications due to caesarean operations, sepsis, thrombosis, and other medical conditions. The rates of women dying at home during childbirth, or during childbirth with just a midwife present are a lot lower than those in hospital. Plus, a <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/richard-godwin-giving-birth-should-not-be-a-guilt-trip-9367142.html" rel="nofollow">previous article</a>&nbsp;Richard wrote said either was pretty much fine.... hypocrisy!!<br /><br />8) General vagueness - would people like NCT teacher's to be more specific about exactly how tiresome and how painful childbirth can be? Do you want to hear that it might be a three day stint? Most of my clients don't. Do people want me to tell them every single thing that could ever go wrong with every single pregnancy, childbirth and baby related condition, just on the off chance that it might affect someone in the class? When you are catering to the masses, there is a certain amount of "vagueness" that can ensue. Plus, whilst some want every tibit of info, others don't want to hear the warts and all answer - it is hard to cater for everyone.<br /><br />9) "Instructor's" (or practitioners/facilitators as we prefer to be called) have to have given birth themselves in most cases, thereby ensuring they have probably attended at least their own birth. many others such as myself act as Doula's, or attend women in birth in other roles. NCT Antenatal Teacher's who teach Signature courses have attended a university higher education course with a Diploma or Degree attached to it, so they are extremely qualified to deliver antenatal education, and have gone to university to further their careers like many other professions, and unlike some other organisations which offer antenatal classes.<br /><br />10) Us practitioner's use both " Brain" and "Brian" as mnemonics &nbsp;- they are interchangeable, and some people remember one, some the other.<br /><br />11) It's not "unscientific dumbassery" to imagine that you can control your hormone levels with relaxations such as a foot-rub. Producing Oxytocin happens when you are relaxed, a foot rub is relaxing for some people, for others it's reading a book, watching tv, spending time with their partner - there is lots of research on the hormone Oxytocin. It's the same as saying we can't control adrenaline levels - we can, as we don't walk around in a permanent state of stress and nervousness.<br /><br />12) It is a shame when parents feel that anything but a natural birth is a failure. In my classes we discuss all of the pros and cons of issues like pain relief, birth choices etc. It doesn't change my life whether a person accept drugs during labour - as long as they are happy with the choice they made.<br /><br />13) - A good birth or a bad birth is not down to "luck" most of the time - it's down to the choices women make - much evidence attests to this. Often one intervention leads to another. Often a method of pain relief may have an effect on the birth, as may a midwife or doctor and their own beliefs and practices as well as the birth partner's beliefs and experiences. It is not down to luck.<br /><br />14) "Trust the professionals" Placing your blind trust in anyone in any situation is not always a good idea. It may shock some to hear this, but some health professionals may put hospital policy, or the interests of the hospital in front of women's choice. Birth is a litigious beast, and some professionals may sometimes put their own best interests first, or may not wish to honour a woman's choice for fear of being sued, or ...just in case... shocking I know.... By all means trust professionals, but also ask whose interests they are honouring in some situations.<br /><br />15) "breastfeeding is lovely" &nbsp;is it? Is that why we do it - because it's lovely? Or is it because it is in the baby's best interests. Newborns cause sleeplessness, but this is not a reason to give up breastfeeding, especially as there are so many benefits as opposed to formula.<br /><br />BTW Richard - research shows that a scented candle will do "diddly squat" for some women - perhaps do your research next time before writing such a vitriolic article, which only aims to advertise Mumsnet Bumpfest (how much was the Evening Standard paid for this) and which sets to berate a charity which supports over 100,000 parents each year. It looks like money really is what keeps bad journalism afloat.<br /><br />As I said before, don't believe everything you read in the news. Us NCT Practitioner's aren't all bad. Lots of us really care passionately about helping parents at such a crucial time in their lives, and not just about how many people we can shock with our knitted vagina's, and breasts!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/08/friends-for-life-v-knitted-vaginas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-6108598502064825137Tue, 05 Aug 2014 02:17:00 +00002014-08-05T03:17:23.679+01:00gadebridge parkgadebridge splashpark petitionhemel splashpark petitionpetition for better amenities in hemel parkPetiton for Splash Park & Better Facilities in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLAHHiXx-t0/U-A7p8eYu9I/AAAAAAAAD5s/vS98w9OlSTM/s1600/gadebridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLAHHiXx-t0/U-A7p8eYu9I/AAAAAAAAD5s/vS98w9OlSTM/s1600/gadebridge.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a>With summer upon us, and the kids wanting to be outside, it really does make you aware of the facilities which are available in your local town. Whilst other towns have some fantastic council run amenities in the local park, and things for the kids to do, our local town of Hemel Hempstead is lacking a little bit behind other local towns such as Watford and St Albans in the facilities which it offers in it's main park.&nbsp;</div><br />Our local town has a beautiful park, which is a real sprawling open space with a stream running through it. It is very picturesque. It has a children's play area and other facilities including crazy golf, a bowling green, garden games and a skate parl. One thing it is really lacking though, is a Splash Park or Paddling Pool. At present the children cool off in the stream, which is fun, but not completely safe. Another thing it really lacks is decent Toilets and a Cafe Area too. It is such a large space, that a tarmacked area for tennis courts, or ball games could also be a possibility, as could an outside gym, or other amenities to bring it more in-line with other local towns.<br /><br />Having spent quite a bit of time in the park already this summer thanks to the fantastic weather, the lack of local amenities has been very evident. I have been caught short with the 4 year old needing the toilet and having to use the really basic stinky, dirty facilities with no toilet paper. They could definitely do with some modernisation. I have also been left gasping for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, with nowhere to go and buy one - a revenue really lost for the local council, or even local voluntary groups who could be making money out of the local trade in the park. At present, the ice cream van seems to have the profits from refreshments sewn up and so it would be nice to see a permanent structure there which people could use. The local Inn on the Park in St Albans serves as a Cafe venue, but also has many more uses as a venue for local classes, performances, and a sales venue for local businesses, and and so a Cafe space in the park could really be utilised and would be a much needed service.<br /><br />Local Dad Ben Armstrong has started a petition to get better facilities in Gadebridge Park Hemel Hempstead, including a splash park and other amenities. I believe that it is important to get behind campaigns like this which will be of huge benefit to the local community, and will also be of benefit to my own children and their friends. I would love for this campaign to have an impact and to bring about a change in the town. A growing number of parents are asking for that change to happen, and so if you agree, please consider signing the petition to improve the local park. Please <a href="https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/dacorum-borough-council-reconfigure-the-park-incorporate-a-splash-park-and-add-better-facilities-ie-cafe-and-toilets">click here</a>&nbsp;to sign.<br /><br />What would you like to see in Gadebridge Park?http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/08/petiton-for-splash-park-better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-3599319479068377260Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:39:00 +00002014-07-28T01:39:17.934+01:00familyparentingSummer is Here!I realise that I am a little late in celebrating the end of term, but it has taken me a week of the holidays to relax after such a manic end of term! The sports days, summer fetes, cake making, meetings, photos, leavers services and everything else school related are all over.<br /><br />The last day of school happened, and a celebratory paddle in the river to finish it off, and we have got the first week of the holidays out of the way! Eldest finished year two, a lot taller and more knowledgeable than when she started. My little reception girl who started the year not being able to read or write is now sailing into year one and seems to have grown and matured so much over the last year!<br /><br />I do love everything that happens in the summer term school wise, but it is amazing waking up during the holidays, knowing there is no school run, no after school activities and no deadlines!!<br /><br />A summer to enjoy ourselves and enjoy the glorious weather! I will be posting about what we have been doing (just in case you're interested!!).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1QH33gn1t4/U9WameBXPgI/AAAAAAAAD44/YgAIUQA_yvI/s1600/selfie!+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1QH33gn1t4/U9WameBXPgI/AAAAAAAAD44/YgAIUQA_yvI/s1600/selfie!+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/07/summer-is-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-3309262293612650287Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:17:00 +00002014-07-21T13:17:39.675+01:00happy anniversarywedding anniversaryHappy Wedding Anniversary!!Seven years ago today was our wedding day. To me, it really does seem like yesterday! I remember all of the stress that led up to the big day, the last minute preparations, the floods that prevented some people from attending, and the sunshine, which broke through at the last minute as I arrived at the church.<br /><br />I remember the lovely speeches, the wonderful company of friends and family, the great wedding dance, and the wedding cake, which I think I cut but never actually got to eat a piece of!!<br /><br />It was a fantastic day, even though it really did pass by in a blur so happy seven years of marriage to hubby!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Irh_HoxUGU/U80Eb9UKsQI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/Z6svmO5XLRI/s1600/wedding1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Irh_HoxUGU/U80Eb9UKsQI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/Z6svmO5XLRI/s1600/wedding1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/07/happy-wedding-anniversary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050205355442521976.post-4158549563464557739Tue, 08 Jul 2014 11:58:00 +00002014-07-08T12:58:19.974+01:00kids learning to plaitplaitNew Milestones: Plaiting Another milestone from eldest this week. As well as being able to tie her shoes, yesterday, eldest mastered the art of plaiting. This has been some time in the making, and she has been desperate to learn how to plait, so I sat down with her and showed her, and after much practice and focus from her, using some coloured cord, she eventually managed it! Another milestone completed and another reminder of how quickly she is growing up! Now she can plait her hair on her own, soon she won't need us at all!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVz0k3lmsSw/U7vbxTRjP6I/AAAAAAAAD38/90uow9a60ok/s1600/plait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVz0k3lmsSw/U7vbxTRjP6I/AAAAAAAAD38/90uow9a60ok/s1600/plait.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div><br />http://www.justdoitmummy.co.uk/2014/07/new-milestones-plaiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Clare Rudd)0